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  • decorations in neutral, nature-inspired colours | These Four Walls blog

    Minimalist Christmas decorations in neutral, nature-inspired colours

    December 15, 2022February 17, 2026

    A look at how I’ve styled my home for Christmas, with simple Scandinavian paper decorations, pine cones, branches and neutral colours…

  • How to create a festive mantelpiece display using branches and dried foliage

    How to create a festive mantelpiece display using branches and dried foliage

    November 29, 2022February 18, 2026

    A step-by-step tutorial to help you create a festive fireplace arrangement using branches, candles and dried winter foliage…

  • The Edit | A simple, neutral Christmas

    The Edit | A simple, neutral Christmas

    November 25, 2022February 18, 2026

    A curated selection of simple, neutral Christmas decorations, gift wrap and tableware inspired by the beiges, browns and off-whites of the wintry landscape…

  • The Edit - a home spa session | These Four Walls blog

    The Edit | A pampering home spa session

    August 23, 2022February 24, 2026

    Everything you need for a pampering home spa session – relaxing bath salts and candles, skin and body care, minimalist bathroom accessories, soft linens and more…

  • Briiv - a stylish & sustainable air purifier to tackle indoor pollution | These Four Walls blog

    Briiv – a stylish & sustainable air purifier to tackle indoor pollution in the home

    July 7, 2022February 25, 2026

    Indoor air pollution can be very damaging, causing breathing difficulties, sleep disturbances, brain fog and more. The all-natural and very sustainable Briiv air purifier claims to help, and I tested it out in my own home. Here’s my review…

  • The Edit - stylish, timeless buys for a day at the beach | These Four Walls blog

    The Edit | A day at the beach

    June 24, 2022February 25, 2026

    My pick of timeless, considered buys for a day at the beach – versatile accessories, stylish swimwear made from recycled plastic, a portable deckchair, lamp and parasol, beautiful picnic gear, my favourite sunscreen and more…

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One of the things I love most about our house is t One of the things I love most about our house is the light, but it does have one downside. We face directly east-west, so in summer there's always strong light coming from one direction or another - and some rooms like the main bedroom shown here are dual-aspect, so they get it all day long. It's starting to cause UV damage to furniture and surfaces, even with the curtains closed for much of the day. I think we're going to have to look at adding UV-reducing film to the windows, while we save up to get them replaced properly. If you've used it yourself and have any thoughts on whether it actually makes a difference then I'd love to know!

The photograph on the wall, by the way, is one of my own images that I had printed out and framed. It was taken nearby, on a foggy morning not longer after we moved in, and it's one of my favourites. 

#cottagerenovation #neutralbedroom #naturallight #rusticminimalism #cottageinterior
This is the question we get asked whenever we say This is the question we get asked whenever we say we've downsized. We've also had some weird comments from people who assume that just because we've moved to a smaller house, we must be struggling financially. 

I hate the way the size of your home has somehow become a marker of success, and bigger isn't always better. I can understand people searching for more space if they have a growing family, but we don't. Instead, we made a conscious decision to reduce our mortgage, free up some budget for renovations, and give ourselves some breathing room for the future. 

So no, we won't be extending our little cottage. We don't want or need a bigger house just for the sake of it, and to be honest we consider ourselves lucky to own anywhere at all, given how difficult it is to buy a property nowadays. It would only mean more to clean, anyway! 

Here's to everyone else making the most of the home they have, no matter what its size or their circumstances. 

#cottagerenovation #cotswoldscottage #smallhome #cottagelife #downsizing
A few snippets from Bath, London and home during a A few snippets from Bath, London and home during a burning-hot July, some taken on my phone, others on my big camera. It's been a busy month, but a good one. I'm looking forward to a slightly slower August, and hopefully some rain for the parched landscape. 

#summermood #bathuk #cotswolds #summerlight #cornersofmyworld
[AD - PR products tagged] The view that makes me h [AD - PR products tagged] The view that makes me happy every time I come in through the front door (until I get to the bottom of the stairs, which is where the extent of our cottage renovation currently stops!). 

#diningroomdesign #cottagerenovation #rusticminimalism #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle
Back in May I spent three fantastic days exploring Back in May I spent three fantastic days exploring Bergen with my friend Becky, and I've finally got around to putting together a city guide. 

Norway's second-largest city and one-time capital is known as the ‘gateway to the fjords’, and many people fly in and head straight back out again on a cruise. But it’s a place that’s well worth exploring, either as part of a wider itinerary or as a destination in its own right. Sandwiched between mountains and sea, it's a wonderful mix of history, culture and scenery, with a Unesco-listed Hanseatic harbourside, plenty of art galleries, a thriving food scene, and pretty wooden houses that creep up the slopes of its famous seven hills. 

Here are my top 12 things to see and do in Bergen, including restaurants, viewpoints, museums and more. Save this post for your future travels, and find my full Bergen guide on the blog. 

#visitbergen #visitnorway #travelblogger #travelphotography #divineworldplaces

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